Myers Park - Charlotte, NC

Myers Park was created by John Springs Myers from part of his farm that he carved off in 1891. The plan was to turn the rest of his cotton farm into an elegant suburb, with James Nolen to design it. As the neighborhood was built, willow, oak, elm and tulip poplar trees were planted along the sidewalks to give it more of a suburban feel.

The nearby Charlotte Nature Museum has interactive nature exhibits including live animal displays and also offers educational programs for kids. The Mint Randolph Museum is the largest visual art institution in the state, showcasing works from the ancient Americas, America from 1700-1945 and ancient ceramics from 2000 B.C. to 1950 A.D. The Myers Park area also hosts the Freedom Summer Series every summer in Freedom Park, which consists of free live music and concerts for the weekend in the middle of August.

Nearby Montford Drive features several restaurants and bars all within the same area. Good Food on Montford serves a variety of tapas-style food and wine from award-winning chef Bruce Moffet. Some signature dishes include pork carnitas, which consists of spicy pork mixed with pickled cabbage and fresh queso over tortillas, and the fresh catch dish, which varies with the local catch.

The Roasting Company is famous for its slow-roasted rotisserie chicken that can be eaten plain with two sides for dinner or over rice topped with jaco sauce or homemade queso. This place also features 22 different beers on tap.

For some international cuisine, visit Vivace, which serves authentic Italian food on a patio with fantastic views of the entire Charlotte skyline. Specialties include pizza topped with meatball, Italian pork, fennel sausage and cherry peppers, and the veal saltimbocca, fresh mozzarella ravioli topped with wild mushrooms, brown butter and sliced veal. Vivace also offers vegetarian and gluten-free menus.

Montford Drive is also home to the bar Brazwells, which has live music every Thursday with $4 well drinks and $2 beers. Brazwells has been serving the Charlotte area for over 40 years. The Double Door Inn has live music too, with concerts almost every night of the week featuring jazz bands. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online. Theatre Charlotte, showing musicals, plays and dinner shows, is a great venue for a night out or a date.

Many different modes of transportation are available around the Meyers Park area. Walking and biking are both safe in residential areas, but the main highways through Meyers Park can get very busy. Six different CAT buses serve the area, as well as a light rail system with the closest station just three miles away. A cab can always be called, and Uber and Lyft are also options. I-77 sits less than two miles from the neighborhood, making the commute to downtown or to the I-485 outer loop around the city simple and convenient. Parking in Myers Park is available on almost any street in the residential areas without issues, but in the downtown area closer to the center of Charlotte parking is only available through paid meter on the street or in one of the city’s many hourly parking garages.

For some recreational options, two parks sit within less than a mile of the neighborhood area in Freedom Park and Marion Diehl Park. Freedom Park has many sporting options including 12 tennis courts, four soccer fields, a basketball court and two sand volleyball courts. The Park also has a bandshell for events, two playgrounds for the children and several miles of paved walking trails. Marion Diehl Park sits on 82 acres of land and features a great walking trail and outdoor playground. The indoor gymnasium and swimming pool with six lanes are popular exercise options for the locals. For a bit of exercise for your four-legged friend both the Freedom Park and Marion Diehl Park welcome pets. All facilities, with the exception of the indoor section of Marion Diehl Park, is available free of charge.

Myers Park has a sales tax of 7.5%, but the average gas price in the area is about 4% below the national average. For a pub trip, the average beer will typically run you between $4 and $6 dollars. Prices are usually lower for locally brewed beer.

Myers Park offers locals an abundance of shopping options, including malls as well as many boutique shops within the area. The South Park Mall sits less than two miles from the neighborhood and has over 100 stores, including high-end favorites such as Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, and Coach. The area also has several boutique stores close by, including KK Bloom. KK Bloom Boutique features a large variety of women's clothing with items from well-known designers as well as on-the-rise designers and clothing ranging from stylish dresses to tops and all kinds of jewelry.

For grocery shopping in the Myers Park area, many locals head to Reid's Fine Foods, which features all gourmet and organic foods, meats and produce. The area has several popular chain stores as well, including organic favorite Earthfare, bargain favorite Trader Joe's and several Harris Teeter locations. For some fresh fruits and vegetables, head to Kings Drive Farmers Market, where merchants hock North Carolina produce from April to September. Remember to hit up the ATM beforehand, as it is a cash-only enterprise.